We intrinsically know that animals and nature have a lot to teach us, but this episode’s guest takes that education to a whole new level. Vanessa Chakour is an author, naturalist, and former pro boxer whose new book, Earthly Bodies: Embracing Animal Nature dives into the parallels between our human struggles and the experiences of our wilder neighbors. Looking at 23 wild animals, from wolves to sea lions, Vanessa explores how developing empathy for wild animals can help with our own understanding of humanity and see just how interconnected we are with the planet. In this episode, you’ll learn: What rewilding is and why it’s so valuable to the human experience. How discovering empathy for wild animals can help us better understand our humanity. What we can learn from spending time in the natural world and what that will do for us.

This week, we’re sharing an episode of Need a Lift?, a show that focuses on bringing people together during a tough time in our culture. Host Tim Shriver talks to wise guests who have transformed painful moments in their lives into purpose through their spiritual rituals and practices. Guests like bestselling novelist Min Jin Lee on why she creates complicated characters who hold the secret to our transformation, and Olympic athlete Michael Phelps and his wife Nicole discussing the importance of cultivating an inner life in competition, mental health and in their marriage. Need a Lift? is truly the antidote to the hatred and despair we’re all exhausted of hearing, giving us hope that change is possible. In this episode, The Office’s Rainn Wilson explains that we can quiet the world's chaos and deal with our collective sense of overwhelm by believing in something bigger than us. Find more episodes of Need a Lift? at https://link.chtbl.com/needalift?sid=livehappynow

When award-winning journalist and bestselling child development author Wendy Lyons Sunshine adopted a difficult puppy, she found that traditional training methods didn’t work on her dog. So she began applying the evidence-based parenting practices she wrote about and found this new approach was life-changing for both her and her dog. In her latest book, Tender Paws: How Science-Based Parenting Can Transform Our Relationship with Dogs, Wendy offers therapeutic concepts designed to meet each dogs’ needs, and in this episode, she tells us why this approach is so effective. In this episode, you’ll learn: What attunement is and how it affects the dog/human relationship. How the essential HEARTS strategy works for both kids and dogs. Why adopting a parenting perspective with our pets can improve our relationship with them.

Burnout and stress continue to create tremendous challenges at home and on the job, so this week, we’re looking at how we can reclaim our joy and energy. Join host Paula Felps as she talks with clinical psychologist Chris Germer who, along with researcher Dr. Kristin Neff, developed the world-renowned Mindful Self-compassion program. Their third co-authored book, Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout, looks at how self-compassion can help overcome burnout and offers simple anti-burnout tools to de-stress, recharge, and develop your inner kindness. In this episode, you’ll learn: What self-compassion is and why it’s so important to practice. Why burnout is so prevalent these days — and what’s causing it. How self-compassion can help alleviate burnout.

If you’ve never thought of cows as intuitive healers, this episode just might change your mind. Ellie Laks is the founder of The Gentle Barn Foundation, a national organization that rescues and rehabilitates abused and discarded farm animals. She is the creator of cow hug therapy and, as she explains in her book by the same name, she has learned amazing lessons from these animals about life, death, and everything in between. She’s here today to share some of those lessons with us.  In this episode, you’ll learn: The origins of Cow Hug Therapy. How farm animals can aid in emotional healing. What we can learn from barnyard animals and why they’re such great teachers.

Acclaimed soprano Renee Fleming has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, performing in operas, concerts, theater, and films. But now, the five-time Grammy Award winner is using her voice to help improve our wellbeing. In her new book, Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness, Renee has curated a collection of essays from leading scientists, artists, musicians, creative arts therapists, educators, and healthcare providers about the powerful impact of music and the arts on health and the human experience. She’s here to discuss how this project came about and why she is so committed to sharing this message. In this episode, you’ll learn: What compelled Renee to advocate for the arts as a healing tool. How following the Neuroarts Blueprint can improve your mental health.  What Renee considers to be some of the music’s “best-kept secrets.” 

For years, wolves have been revered as spirit animals and in many spiritual traditions, they’re believed to help people connect with their instincts and inner wisdom. At the Sedona Wolf Sanctuary in Arizona, rescued wolves on sacred land create a healing experience for those who have experienced trauma or who are looking for a renewing spiritual experience. In this episode, host Brittany Derrenbacher talks with Cynthia Heisch, founder and CEO of the sanctuary, to talk about how and why wolves can help us heal. In this episode, you’ll learn: How wolves can help humans on their healing journeys. What wolf medicine is. What we can learn from interacting with wolves.

Music can be a powerful tool for improving mental health, and in this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Brandon Staglin, co-founder and president of One Mind, a mental health nonprofit organization committed to improving brain health by supporting research and providing resources. Central to their mission is music, which Brandon explains has been an incredible healing tool in his own struggle with mental illness. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why One Mind was created.  How Brandon uses music for healing and connection in his own life. How to be part of this year’s One Mind Music Festival for Brain Health.

As companions for our animals, most of like to take a hands-on approach. But learning the ancient art of Jin Shin Jyutsu can take that one step further by deepening the human/animal connection and keeping everyone happy and healthy. Join host Brittany Derrenbacher as she sits down with internationally known teacher Adele Leas, the originator of Jin Shin Jyutsu for animals. Although this practice was originally designed for humans, Adele has discovered its amazing ability to balance the body, mind, and spirit in diverse species of animals and now helps others learn how to use it. In this episode, you’ll learn: What Jin Shin Jyutsu is — and how it can improve health and happiness. How Adele discovered its powerful healing abilities. How it can be transformative for rescue animals.

Plenty of research shows that pets can help us heal, and now even hospitals are warming up to the idea. On this episode, host Brittany Derrenbacher sits down with Heather Stohr, a certified child life specialist at Norton Children’s in Louisville, KY.  Heather manages the facility dog program at Norton Healthcare, which allows animals to play a very important role in the healing process for patients, families, and caregivers. Find out how they are changing lives one hospital bed at a time. In this episode, you’ll learn: What a facility dog does in a hospital — and how it changes the way patients heal. How dogs are trained to become facility dogs. How dogs are also changing the lives of prisoners as they are being trained.

Music has the power to help us heal, and that’s why one Musicians on Call delivers music where it might be needed most: the hospital. This volunteer organization connects musicians with hospitals to provide live and recorded music to patients. In this episode, host Paula Felps is joined by Katy Epley, executive vice president at Musicians on Call, to learn how this program came about and how it has changed the lives of both patients and the musicians who perform for them. In this episode, you’ll learn: The physical, emotional, and mental benefits of experiencing live music in a hospital setting. How this program has changed the landscape for accessing live music in the hospital. How to get involved with Musicians on Call.

Dr. Joanne Cacciatore knows first-hand the trauma caused by grief and loss. And she also knows how animals can help us heal. On this episode, host Brittany Derrenbacher sits down with Dr. Jo, founder of the Arizona-based Selah Carefarm, which provides a compassionate, healing space for those who have suffered trauma and loss. Listen in as they discuss how humans and animals help each other heal from abuse, trauma, and grief. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why animals are such experts at helping us heal from trauma. How working with abused animals has had a profound effect on Dr. Jo’s life. What a day on Selah Carefarm is like.

The holidays are here, which means we’ve been filling our ears with the sounds of the season. As we hit the final stretch, host Paula Felps sits down with Jasper Smith of the popular a capella group Straight No Chaser. Since being discovered on YouTube, this group has become an international sensation and has become part of a holiday tradition for many. In this episode, you’ll learn: How a 10-year-old video from college launched the band’s career. Why Straight No Chaser has become synonymous with the holiday season. Why the band loves delivering happiness for the holidays.

If you’ve ever wished you could talk to the animals, we’ve got great news for you: Today’s guest says you can! Join host Brittany Derrenbacher as she sits down with Joan Ranquet, a well-known animal communicator, author, TEDx speaker, educator, and animal advocate. Joan and Brittany talk about the many ways we can learn to listen to our animals and they also discuss the benefits of “tapping,” which Joan talks about in her newest book, Emotional Freedom Technique for Animals and Their Humans: Creating a Harmonious Relationship Through Tapping. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why Joan believes all of us have the ability to tune into what animals are telling us. Simple ways we can learn to listen to animals. How the emotional freedom technique, or “tapping,” can ease anxiety in pets.

November is Adopt a Senior Pet month, and that makes it the perfect time to talk to Dr. Julie Buzby, an integrative veterinarian with a special place in her heart for senior pets. She’s here to talk with host Brittany Derrenbacher about some of the misconceptions we often have about senior dogs and why in many cases a senior pet may be the best option for adoption. So listen in as she and Brittany talk about what senior pets can do for us—and what we should be doing for them.   In this episode, you’ll learn: What age dogs are considered seniors. Tips for caring for a senior pet. Benefits of senior pets for senior citizens.

Sound frequencies can change not only our mental state, but change how we feel physically, too. Laura Widney first began using sound frequencies to help her wellness clients manage stress and anxiety. As she learned its many applications, she became chief innovation officer of Soaak, a company that offers sound therapy on the go. In this episode, she talks about how we all can use sound frequencies to boost our energy, enhance our focus, and improve our overall sense of well-being. In this episode, you’ll learn: How different sound frequencies affect our physical and mental health. Why sound is so effective at changing how we feel. How to use sound as part of a daily wellness practice.

We know that the bonds we have with our pets are special, but this week’s guest may have you thinking about that connection at a deeper level. Jen Golbeck is the creator of social media’s popular The Golden Ratio channel, which shares photos and videos of her rescued golden retrievers. In this episode, she talks with host Brittany Derrenbacher about her new book, The Purest Bond: Understanding the Human-Canine Connection, which provides the science behind those incredible bonds and offers new insight into how we can use that information to improve our relationships with our own animals. In this episode, you'll learn: Why our bond with our pets is so powerful — and so important. How pets help make us happier and healthier. What Jen learned from working with special needs and senior dogs.

Animals play an important role in our happiness, and with this new podcast from Live Happy, you’re going to learn why they’re so good for us and how to nurture our relationships with them. Each month, therapist and pet loss expert Brittany Derrenbacher will sit down with a new guest to explore some of the many ways we benefit from our relationships with animals. In this inaugural episode, she’s joined by Paula Felps, host of the Live Happy Now podcast, to talk about why we’re doing this podcast, why you need to pet more animals, and why you should put down your phone. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why it’s important to understand what animals do for our emotional well-being. How petting other people’s animals is scientifically proven to be good for us. Why you should stop phubbing your pet. 

We are now back in school, and this week’s guest is going to be everyone’s favorite science teacher! In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Marsha Goodman, a cognitive neuroscientist turned popular children’s singer, songwriter and recording artist who performs under the name Marsha and the Positrons. As the name implies, her music is imbued with positivity and teaches listeners about things like kindness, friendship, and taking care of the planet and the people who live on it. She also throws some science in there and makes learning as fun and easy as listening to a song. In this episode, you’ll learn: How she went from being a cognitive neuroscientist to becoming a popular children’s artist. Why she wanted to use her music to spread positive social messages. What to expect from her new album, “Energetic.”

We know that listening to music can help heal our hearts, but what can it do for the songwriter? In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Morgan James, a singer and songwriter who has appeared on Broadway stages and with symphony orchestras in addition to writing and recording her own music. While working on her latest album, she and Doug Wamble — her husband and cowriter —were grappling with the devastating illnesses of dear friends. Morgan explains how they put the tangled emotions of uncertainty, grief and loss into a song called I’ll Be Holding On, which also has become the album’s video centerpiece. In this episode, you’ll learn: How songwriting helps her process difficult emotions. Why it was so important to write about the grief she was experiencing. How performing songs helps her work through challenging situations.

Recording artist gnash has made mental health a central part of his music, delivering messages through music that might be difficult to talk about in conversation. As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month in May, it’s the perfect time to talk to gnash about his latest album, The Art of Letting Go, which is a journey through the tumultuous emotions brought on by the pandemic. In this episode, you’ll hear how making this album helped save his life during the pandemic and what he hopes we all take away from it. In this episode, you’ll learn: How The Art of Letting Go developed during the pandemic. Why he shares breathing exercises with his audience when he’s on stage. How he uses music, movement, and meditation to manage anxiety and worry.

Death is inevitable, but as with many things in life, music can change how people experience the journey. That’s the idea behind Threshold Choirs — an international movement in which a trio sings healing and comforting songs for people who are nearing the end of life. In this episode, Jan Stanley, a long-time Threshold Choir member, explains how sharing songs at this uncertain time not only brings comfort to the dying and their family members, but can be transformational for the singers as well. In this episode, you’ll learn: What a Threshold Choir is and how they began. How music provides such comfort to those who are ill and dying. How being part of a Threshold Choir can impact members. 

When acclaimed jazz vocalist Allegra Levy became a parent, she began noticing that the lyrics of classic children’s songs didn’t fit in today’s world of equity and inclusion. As a mother, she was concerned about what messages children were getting from the music and as a musician, she didn’t want to raise her child with songs that had been musically “dumbed down.” So she began writing her own jazz-tinged children’s music with a positive spin on mental well-being. The result is a new album, Songs for You and Me, and in this episode she talks about the importance of experiencing music as a family. In this episode, you’ll learn: How the pandemic inspired her to rethink children’s music. Why children need to hear more inclusive music.   What parents can do to use music as a tool for learning and creativity.

Sav Buist and Katie Larson were shy high school students when a music education presentation brought them together — and changed their future. Ten years later, they front a trio called The Accidentals and have earned glowing album reviews while packing venues with their live shows. But because they’ve never forgotten how that high school presentation changed their lives, they also host and lead workshops across the country to inspire young musicians to find their voice and use music to improve their mental health. In this episode, they talk about how it all came together and how they are changing young lives one song at a time. In this episode, you’ll learn: The importance of music education. How music helps us process what’s hard to express.  Why it’s so important to give back to others and help them follow their dreams.

Learn How to Move Toward Happiness in Negative and Uncertain Times Life is full of inflection points. Divorce, career upheaval, illness, empty nests, retirement, and other life-changing events are full of uncertainty and stress. But what if those difficulties could become the doorways to positive possibilities? When approached in the right way, these challenges hold the opportunity to explore, strengthen, and move towards happiness. Join Paula Felps and Megan McDonough, Founder of Wholebeing Institute, and see how to take the next step toward happiness. Learn how the challenges you’re facing today — no matter how daunting they seem — actually hold the opportunity to explore, strengthen, and reshape your life. In this episode, you’ll learn: What inflection points are and how to identify them in your life. The concept of liminal space and how you can use it to thrive. The importance of “selfing” and “unselfing” — and what that means.

David Fishof is a legendary music producer and founder of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp, which invites everyday people to play alongside world-renowned rock stars. David has seen first-hand the incredible power of music and how it transforms people both in their personal lives and their professional aspirations. His amazing story is told in the new documentary, Rock Camp, available now on Amazon, as well as in the book by the same name. In this episode, he shares how Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp began and how he has seen music change the lives of hundreds of people along the way.  In this episode, you’ll learn: How Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp was inspired by a backstage “fight” between Joe Walsh and Levon Helm. Why music is so powerful in bringing people together. How playing with their rock heroes has inspired campers to pursue new dreams off the stage.

The sounds of the season are all around us, but have you thought about why holiday music makes us happy? This week, Paula Felps sits down with sonic strategist Steve Keller to find out how holiday music is tied to nostalgia and what happens in our brains when we listen to it.   In this episode, you'll learn: Why even melancholy holiday music can make us feel happier. What role dopamine plays in the memories involving music. How to use holiday music to boost your mood throughout this busy season.

When you hear Snoop Dogg’s name, the first thing that comes to mind probably isn’t social emotional learning. But with his latest venture, Doggyland, Snoop has teamed up with producer Claude Brooks and recording artist October London to create a very special learning project. On this episode, Claude sits down with host Paula Felps to explain how Doggyland was created, what they want to accomplish with their songs and how they’re using music to change the way children view themselves — and the world around them. Let’s take a listen. In this episode, you’ll learn: How they use music as a learning tool. Why music and rhyme is a great way for children to learn acceptance of themselves and others. How they are working to make sure this message is available to everyone.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and that made it the perfect time to sit down with Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, best known as the Grammy-winning duo Cathy & Marcy. They have been entertaining audiences for more than 40 years, and when Marcy received a breast cancer diagnosis, they faced it the same way they have faced all of life’s challenges — side by side, with music and humor. The result is the comedic musical All Wigged Out, which has been made into a film and details Marcy’s journey with breast cancer. They sat down with host Paula Felps to talk about how they transformed this health challenge into a musical story of hope and healing to share with the world. In this episode, you'll learn: How they used music to process Marcy’s diagnosis. Why celebrating even small milestones was important to their journey. How they turned the experience into a humorous healing story.

The right song lyrics can express exactly what you’re feeling, and they can even help kids open up about what’s happening in their lives. With the Sound It Out campaign, parents and caregivers can support emotional wellness in young people by using songs and lyrics to help kids express their feelings. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Regina Miranda, a professor of psychology at Hunter College and one of the advisors for the program, to learn more about it.    In this episode, you’ll learn: What the campaign offers and how it came about. How music supports emotional wellness. How to use the Conversation Starter Pack to talk with kids about their feelings.

Music has such a powerful healing ability that some researchers are even looking at “sonic pharmacology” — using music as a tool to improve patients’ health. Steve Keller is one of the world’s leading experts on sonic strategy. As a researcher, he has explored how music and sound affect everything from our physical wellbeing to our emotional state to our relationships and overall perception of happiness. In this episode, he looks at the many surprising ways music can be used as a healing tool — and explains why, one day, your doctor might give you a musical prescription. In this episode, you’ll learn: How the medical community is using sound to enhance healing. Some of the surprising ways noise affects our health — and how music can help. The unexpected ways music can change your eating habits and promote a healthier lifestyle.

Music education typically focuses on teaching students who want to be musicians or music teachers, but this week’s guest sees it as a vehicle for teaching an entire spectrum of social emotional learning skills. Nadine Levitt is a mother, former opera singer and the founder of WURRLYedu, which uses music to teach children about things like empathy, collaboration, impulse control and so much more. In this episode, she explains how music can help change the way young learners look at the world and broaden their understanding of complex emotions. In this episode, you’ll learn: How her career as a performer led Nadine to create Wurrlyedu. How music can help children learn critical life skills. Why using music for social emotional learning is particularly important in our current environment.

Music is a great tool for bringing people together, and during the days of lockdown, the Marsh Family from the UK began sharing song parodies to express what they were going through. As it turns out they were exactly what the world needed, and their viral videos now have received more than 30 million views. They were dubbed the “Von Trapped Family” by the New York Times, and in this episode of On a Positive Note, parents Ben and Danielle Marsh talk about how their family’s humorous approach to the pandemic helped them keep their own sanity while turning their family into a global sensation. In this episode, you’ll learn: What inspired them to start doing parodies. How humor has helped them tackle tough topics. How singing together has brought them closer as a family.

Music is one of the most powerful — and accessible — tools we have for improving our mental health.  On this episode of On a Positive Note, host Paula Felps is joined by acclaimed music therapist Jennifer Buchanan, author of Wellness, Wellplayed: The Power of a Playlist, to talk about the many ways music can be used as a tool for healing and growth. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why music and mental health go hand in hand. How to make a purposeful playlist. What an “anchor song” is and how it can help change your mental state.

Every one of us has a dreamer inside, but as we grow up, we often forget to listen to them. On this inaugural episode of On a Positive Note, host Paula Felps sits down with songwriter and recording artist Sylvia, who’s best known for her mega hit “Nobody.” Now, Sylvia has released the concept album Nature Child – A Dreamer’s Journey, which is earning rave reviews and has put her back on the Billboard music charts. Listen to find out how this album was 30 years in the making and why it’s time to awaken the dreamer in all of us. In this episode, you’ll learn: How her early concert audiences inspired this album. Why the pandemic became the perfect time to explore these songs. Why it’s so important to rediscover our inner dreamer.

Performing under the stage name Stealing Oceans, Nashville-based artist Brian Thompson uses his hip-hop fusion music to inspire and encourage others. After overcoming battles with addiction and depression, he decided to use his own life challenges to help those who are experiencing similar struggles.  That led to creating the #ThisIsMySelfCare mental health awareness campaign, which he launched to promote positive self-care and build awareness about mental health organizations that can provide help and hope.

Dan Tomasulo, Ph.D., is a sought-after speaker and author on topics including positive psychology, positive education and positive psychotherapy. His new book, American Snake Pit: Hope, Grit and Resilience in the Wake of Willowbrook, tells the story of the fallout after the closing of New York state’s most controversial state hospital for the mentally disabled. After a groundbreaking expose from Geraldo Rivera about the horrendous living conditions at Willowbrook State School, including overcrowding, patient abuse and questionable treatment methods, plans were made to close its doors. Dan, then a young post-graduate student, was hired to relocate and treat its most seriously disabled residents.

Emily Larson is a researcher, instructor and practitioner in the fields of education and public policy. As director for the International Positive Education Network (IPEN), which was formed by Martin Seligman, Angela Duckworth and Sir Anthony Seldon, Emily is part of a movement that is turning the academic research surrounding positive psychology into practical lesson plans and interventions for educators and students. In this episode, Emily talks with Live Happy CEO and IPEN Advisory Board member Deborah K. Heisz about how positive education is changing the way students learn and tells listeners about the upcoming World Positive Education Accelerator.

If someone’s ever told you to “take a hike,” chances are you never took it as seriously as Jennifer Pharr Davis. Named a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Jennifer has hiked more than 13,000 miles on six continents. She was the first woman to set a Fastest Known Time on the Appalachian Trail, and during her time on the trails she has learned some incredible things about setting goals, bouncing back and pushing through.

Inspired by an unfortunate toxic work environment in her first job out of college, Christine Porath took on the topic of workplace incivility and its cost to both companies and employees. She’s been running with it ever since. Christine Porath, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and the author of Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace and co-author of The Cost of Bad Behavior. She works with leading organizations to help them create thriving workplaces.

Music has the power to change lives, and nowhere is that more evident than in the powerful SongwritingWith:Soldiers program. This unique program pairs members of the military with professional songwriters to craft songs about their experiences. Through their songs, they learn to release pain, tell their stories and build a strong bond with one another. Program co-founder Mary Judd and singer/songwriter Jay Clementi talk about the power of the program—and what it’s taught them.

How do you encourage children to thrive when their lives are filled with stress and trauma? As executive director of the Momentous Institute in Dallas, Michelle Kinder carries on a century-old mission to help children overcome trauma and toxic stress to learn how to live happy, healthy lives. She talks with us to show how their practices are changing the lives of entire generations of family — and tells us what we all can learn from them.

Becky Blades is author and illustrator of the award-winning book Do Your Laundry or You’ll Die Alone: Advice Your Mom Would Give if She Thought You Were Listening. You can also find her writing on blogs including Oprah.com, The Huffington Post and Grown and Flown, or follow her on Twitter and Facebook at LaundryorDie.

When Pat Graves was going through a difficult time in his life, he flipped out. But not in the way you might think: He committed to doing a backflip every day and videotaped his flips for an audience that quickly grew. Doing flips reconnected him with something he had loved doing since he was a child and also gave him a mission. Find out how his simple idea launched the #InspireHappiness movement, and how he is using it to spread joy while maintaining his own balance.

World-renowned developmental psychologist Thomas Lickona, Ph.D., joins the Live Happy Now podcast to discuss his latest book, How to Raise Kind Kids: And Get Respect, Gratitude, and a Happier Family in the Bargain. Wouldn’t it be great if kids came with a handbook? Well they don’t, so How to Raise Kind Kids may be the next best thing. Join us for this episode of Live Happy Now as we talk to Thomas and tackle issues such as reducing screen time, developing positive attitudes and what to do in challenging situations.

As director of the Resilience and Positive Psychology Training program at the Psychology Center of the University of Pennsylvania, Karen Reivich specializes in what makes us bounce back from adversity. Join us as she shares the attributes that help us create more resilience in our lives—and how we can teach our children to become more resilient, too.

Tipper Gore stepped into the spotlight as wife of Al Gore, who would go on to become vice president and then a presidential candidate. During her time at the White House, Tipper focused much of her energy on bringing awareness to mental health issues. Today, she continues to work on initiatives to help give a voice to those who are affected by anxiety and depression and to help create more understanding about those conditions.

Most of us wish we had just a little more free time in the day. Now, Live Happy host Jeff Sanders tells us how we all can discover free time that we didn’t even know we had! Jeff, who is host of the top-ranking weekly podcast on productivity, The 5 AM Miracle Podcast, shares some of the secrets from his new book, The Free-Time Formula. He tells us how we can get more out of each day—and how productivity and happiness go hand in hand.

Senior editor of New York magazine and health journalist Melissa Dahl has released her first book, Cringeworthy: A Theory of Awkwardness, about the science behind those less than comfortable moments in our lives. Melissa joins the podcast to discuss why we have awkwardness and how embracing the cringeworthy moments in life can help us grow into emotionally stronger people.

John Miller has built a career out of training the dogs that others have given up on. From shelters and rescue groups to working with families, John has saved many dogs from being destroyed through his unique approach that uses practices that turn out to be good for humans, too. Whether you have a troubled pet or just want to be a better leader for the dog in your home, John provides insight into how we all can have a happier relationship with our four-legged friends.

Psychiatrist, author and farmer Drew Ramsey, M.D., is one of psychiatry’s leading voices when it comes to using nutrition as a form of mental health interventions. An assistant professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and chair of the American Psychiatric Association Council on Communications, Drew also is founder of the Brain Food Clinic in New York City, which offers treatment for depression, anxiety and emotional wellness concerns by relying upon the latest in brain science, nutrition and mental health research.

In this episode, Live Happy’s own Chris Libby, Donna Stokes and Paula Felps give you a preview of what to expect in the latest issue of Live Happy magazine. Then we talk with developer Jeremy Fischbach, who combined his background in psychology with his personal experiences to create an app that pairs users with a compassionate listener. Despite our increasingly connected world, sometimes it’s hard to find someone you can really talk to. Research shows that loneliness is a growing—and dangerous—problem, but now there’s an app for that!

Acclaimed artist Stefan Sagmeister’s work has been enjoyed around the world; in addition to gracing the album covers of such artists as the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith and Jay-Z, Stefan has mounted art exhibitions in cities including Zurich, Vienna, Prague, Seoul and New York. In 2016, he released The Happy Film, a seven-year project he created to chronicle his journey to find greater happiness.

As founder and Chief Operating Officer of WOHASU LLC, which produces the World Happiness Summit and H-20 government meeting, Karen Guggenheim is committed to helping others choose happiness and then spread it to others. While her mission is one of building a more joyous, enlightened world, her journey to happiness actually was born from a very tragic event: the sudden death of her husband. Find out how this life-changing tragedy led to creating an event designed to change the lives of others for the better.

Ken Page is a well-known psychotherapist and blogger for both Psychology Today and The Huffington Post who specializes in topics related to intimacy and spirituality. In his best-selling book, Deeper Dating: How to Drop the Games of Seduction and Discover the Power of Intimacy, he teaches readers how to find lasting, more fulfilling relationships.

New Zealand native Brent Williams was a successful human rights attorney when a debilitating illness halted his career. The depression that overtook him not only ended his career, but also destroyed relationships with friends and family. In his new graphic novel, Out of the Woods, he chronicles his personal journey through depression while also sharing self-help strategies and some of the latest research on depression.

Dr. Andrea Brandt is a psychotherapist, speaker and author with nearly four decades of experience. Although she is a pioneer in the treatment of anger issues, she recently began going in a new direction to look at how we can age better. Her latest book, Mindful Aging: Embracing Your Life After 50 to Find Fulfillment, Purpose, and Joy,” looks at how we all bring more joy to the way we age—no matter what age we are.

In the movies, happily ever after comes pretty easily. In real life? Not so much. But the husband and wife team of Suzann Pileggi Pawelski, a writer with a Master of Applied Positive Psychology degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and James Pawelski, Ph.D., professor of Practice and Director of Education in the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, have learned a few things about what it takes to be “Happy Together.” That’s the name of their new book, Happy Together: Using the Science of Positive Psychology to Build Love that Lasts, and in this podcast they share the secrets of what it takes to create deep, lasting love.

Dr. Jenny Taitz is is a board-certified cognitive behavioral clinical psychologist who offers people proven tools to enhance their life. She has presented her novel clinical application on mindfulness and managing emotions at national and international conferences. Her new book, How to be Single and Happy, applies those principles to life in the dating world.

Merlin Thomas is a physician, scientist and program leader in the newly created Department of Diabetes at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Merlin is widely recognized as an opinion leader, researcher and medical storyteller, and he specializes in how to live longer…and better. He’s author of several best-selling books including The Longevity List and Fast Living Slow Aging as well as his podcast The Chopping List.

MJ Ryan is one of the creators of the Random Acts of Kindness book series and the author of several books, including The Happiness Makeover, The Power of Patience and Attitudes of Gratitude. MJ has mastered the art of living in gratitude, and says that anyone can find more joy by applying this simple practice. She’ll teach us how we can improve our workplace, our relationships and our personal lives with a little more gratitude.

Thomas Moore is the New York Times bestselling author of Care of the Soul, as well as many other books on deepening soul and cultivating a mature spiritual life, three of which have received the Books for a Better Life Award. At turns he has been a monk, a musician, a university professor, and a psychotherapist. Today he lectures widely on creating a more soulful world and spirituality.

Courtney Carver is one of the world’s top bloggers on the topic of minimalism and author of the new book, Soulful Simplicity. Courtney’s simple experiment to live with less stuff grew into a complete overhaul of her mind, body and spirit. She found that clearing her physical space improved her psychological space, too—and has learned firsthand how ridding ourselves of excess can actually lead to enjoying more of what life has to offer.

Andrea Petersen is a science and health reporter who hasn’t just studied anxiety from a reporter’s standpoint; she has lived with it. Her new book, On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety gives an honest and heartfelt account of living with anxiety and how she learned to come to terms with it. Andrea looks at how anxiety affected her, how she overcame it, and shows us some of the groundbreaking research that’s being done on anxiety.

Singer BJ Thomas has enjoyed nearly half a century in the music business, selling more than 70 million records and winning multiple Dove and Grammy awards. When Hurricane Harvey devastated his hometown of Houston, he knew he wanted to help, and that his music was the best way to do that. Here’s how he turned a song into a cause, and what it means to him to be able to give back.

Stephen Cope is a Senior Scholar-in-Residence and a Kripalu Ambassador. He is a Western-trained psychotherapist who writes and teaches about the relationship between Western psychological paradigms and the Eastern contemplative traditions. In its 25th anniversary edition, Yoga Journal named him one of the most important innovators in the developing field of American yoga.

Niki Brantmark is the founder and creator of the award-winning daily interior design blog My Scandinavian Home, which was inspired by her move to Sweden from London. Niki has an MA in psychology from the University of Edinburgh and she talks about Lagom (Law-gom) the swedish art of living a balanced, happy life.

Ken Druck, Ph.D., is an award-winning mental health expert specializing in parenting, aging, and resilience training. After some of the nation's worst tragedies. Dr. Druck's many books, including The Real Rules of Life and The Secrets Men Keep, have been featured on Oprah, The New York Times, NPR, CNN, and in countless other media.

Dive into these fun facts on this week's episode of #HappyFacts. Smiling baseball players tend to live longer Exercise makes you happy, especially if you are old Your age helps determine what makes you happy at work

Take a peek into the newest issue of Live Happy magazine and learn more about these fun facts: Research shows that spirituality is the leading character strength associated with a meaningful life. Practicing gratitude may help you live longer. Having purpose in your life every day may result in better sleep. When in dire situations, simply expressing gratitude can brighten your outlook! When it comes to happiness, your location matters Research shows that when children have knowledge of their family history, it can have positive effects on their psychological well-being

Dan Buettner is a National Geographic Fellow and New York Times bestselling author. He is an explorer, educator, author, producer, storyteller and public speaker.

Patty Van Cappellen is the director of the Interdisciplinary Behavioral Research center at Duke University. She studies the affective and motivational determinants and consequences of religious and spiritual beliefs and practices.

This week's facts include: Being in a good mood while getting a flu shot can boost its effectiveness. A study from the University of Notthingham found that of all the factors researchers looked at, a positive mood is the only factor that was associated with a higher level of antibody with an 8 to 14% variance. Boredom can be good for you! So, maybe you're one of those people who would rather staple their tongue to a piece of paper than be bored, but it turns out that boredom has many benefits (beyond not leading you to poke holes in your body). Smiles can be used to convey twice as many indifferent to unhappy emotions as they can happy ones.

Sometimes it's not about bad things happening...it's about the good things that are not happening. Like finding a soul-mate, being able to afford a nice vacation, or finally moving into that dream home. Louisa Jewell holds a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and is the Founder and President of the Canadian Positive Psychology Association. After learning how to permanently overcome depression, she's now focused on what she loves most: helping other people take control of their own happiness and lead a positive, fulfilling life.

Megan Alexander is one of the youngest rising stars in the television news industry. For the past decade she has carved a solid carer as a TV Host, Producer, Speaker and Actress. She can be seen every evening as a correspondent on the longest-running, top rated syndicated national news magazine television show INSIDE EDITION.

Ken Baker, the Los Angeles–based senior correspondent for E! News, has worked in entertainment news for more than twenty years. In between interviews with A-list celebrities amidst the land of fairy tales and double-dealing, Ken came to realize his spiritual cup was evaporating and it was up to him to fill it back up again. His new book The Ken Commandments: My Search for God in Hollywood reveals a world that is deeper and more God-centered than many of us might ever imagine. What you'll learn in this podcast: The most important question that prompted Ken's question in faith Advice on creating your own spiritual journey A glimpse into the world of spirituality in Hollywood

In this episode Live Happy shares Happy Facts: Your friends can pick up your good mood…but they can pick up your bad one too. Your nose knows how to make you happy. If you want to live a longer life, dedicate some of it to making the lives of others better.

It’s not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will help make them successful human beings. This week learn how to raise positive and gritty teens with Dr. Caren Feldman and Molly Dahl. About Molly Dahl Molly Dahl is author of Youth Positive, Exploring the Unique Genius of Every 21st Century Adolescent and The YOUTH Positive Teacher’s Guide. She conducts teacher trainings and workshops, and presents YOUTH Positive and Positive Education at conferences around the country. She holds a Certificate in Positive Psychology from The Wholebeing Institute. About Caren Feldman Dr. Caren Baruch-Feldman is a clinical psychologist and a certified school psychologist. Providing in-services, interactive workshops, and now writing her first book, titled, The Grit Guide for Teens are the highlight of Dr. Feldman’s professional life.

Each week Live Happy radio presents #HappyFacts. This week's facts include: Managing like a coach can lead to greater company loyalty. Thinking about death is good for you. The secret to happiness depends on how well you thrive.

Dr. Partha Nandi is the creator and host of the medical lifestyle television show, Ask Dr. Nandi. Dr. Nandi is also the Chief Health Editor at WXYZ (ABC) Detroit, a practicing physician and a renowned international speaker. His new book Ask Dr. Nandi shares the 5 steps to becoming your own #HealthHero for longevity, well-being and a joyful life. What you’ll learn in this podcast: What it means to be a health hero An introduction to his book Ask Dr. Nandi The 5 pillars to being a health hero

Each week, Live Happy Radio presents #HappyFacts designed to enlighten, educate and entertain you. This week we discuss: Pet dogs can help kids feel less stressed during anxious moments. If you want to put some romance back in your marriage, watch internet videos of puppies. Pets can provide the same psychological benefits as a close friend.

Each week, Live Happy Radio presents #HappyFacts designed to enlighten, educate and entertain you. Here’s a look at what we’re talking about this week: Maybe its the sunrise, maybe its the coffee, maybe it's the Cap'n Crunch with Crunchberries, but people are at their most positive in the mornings. Biking to work may save your life, or at the very least, make your day great. Do smart phones create stupid people? 

After producing and hosting over 1500 segments of ESPN Sport Science, 6 times Emmy Award-winning host and The New York Times best-selling author, John Brenkus, recognized that “high achievers” tend to share a similar story of attaining success. Through The Brink of Midnight podcast, John explores the moments that guests credit with changing their lives forever. Those moments that pushed them in an unexpected direction, shaping the experiences that followed and molding them into the people who they are today. What you'll learn in this podcast: The inspiration behind The Brink of Midnight podcast What goes into creating life-changing moments Inspirational stories from sports figures, celebrities and more

Each week, Live Happy Radio presents #HappyFacts designed to enlighten, educate and entertain you. Here’s a look at what we’re talking about this week: Paying your bills makes you happy Swinging can teach kids to be more collaborative Remembering the good old days can help you appreciate the good new days

Jaime Kurtz is Associate Professor of Psychology at James Madison University. Her research on happiness and savoring has been published widely in scientific journals, receiving national attention from NPR and The Today Show, as well as in print and online magazines. In her book, The Happy Traveler: Unpacking the Secrets of Better Vacations, Jaime looks at how travel can boost happiness and how we can get more of its benefits. What you'll learn in this podcast: How experiences are more influential to your happiness than material things How to get more out of your vacations Tips for a happy homecoming

Each week, Live Happy Radio presents #HappyFacts designed to enlighten, educate and entertain you. Here’s a look at what we’re talking about this week: Friends over family? Deep thoughts for happy people. Craving coffee? Take the stairs!

Garry McDaniel is an award-winning professor teaching courses in leadership, organizational behavior and management. He has written books on leadership strategy, conflict management, and most recently, The Dog’s Guide to Your Happiness: Seven secrets for a better life from man’s best friend. Garry is a frequent on topics such as developing leadership skills, how to create an inspirational workplace, life balance, and what humans and businesses can learn from dogs to improve their lives. What you'll learn in this podcast: Seven attributes of dogs from which humans can learn and build their own happiness What is keeping you from being happy now Steps you can take to improve your feeling of happiness and fulfillment

Each week, Live Happy Radio presents #HappyFacts designed to enlighten, educate and entertain you. Here’s a look at what we’re talking about this week: Music is medicine Joy is contagious Could this be your happy place? 

Caroline Miller is recognized as one of the world’s leading positive psychology experts in the areas of goal setting and accomplishment, grit, happiness and success and how to apply it to one’s life for maximum transformation and growth. In her book Getting Grit she provides an evidence-based approach to cultivating passion, perseverance and purpose. What you'll learn in this podcast: The different types of bad grit Why goal setting is so important to your overall well-being Steps to take to reach your full potential

Each week explore our favorite #HappyFacts designed to enlighten, educate and entertain you. Here’s a look at what we’re talking about this week: Eat Your Veggies! Catch Some Zzzzzzzs Big Bloom Theory

Lani Shiota completed her Ph.D. in Social/Personality Psychology at University of California, Berkeley, in 2003, and then received post-doctoral training in the Berkeley Psychophysiology Lab. She established the Shiota Psychophysiology Laboratory for Affective Testing (a.k.a. SPLAT Lab), which studies human emotions, relationships, and awe. Awe has been defined as the positive emotion one may experience when confronting a vast stimulus that is not accounted for by one's current understanding, and/or challenges one’s day-to-day scope of experience. What you'll learn in this podcast: How to tap into awe Why experiencing awe is so important The research being conducted on the benefits of awe

Explore some of the fun facts that are shared in the July 2017 issue of Live Happy magazine. You can slow time down by doing things that leave you awe-struck. Cities with more public grass are happier and healthier. There are five characteristics that the most long-lived cultures seem to share, and one of them is that they don’t exercise.

Jack Kornfield is one of the best known, most respected meditation teachers in the world. A psychologist and founder of two of the largest Buddhist Centers and communities in America, he is one of the key teachers who introduced mindfulness to the West. Jack has taught at major universities and medical schools including Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, and Berkeley, teaches weekly classes to 400 at Spirit Rock, and to large crowds nationwide at retreats and conferences. What you'll learn in this podcast: How to be more mindful in the present The benefits of meditation to your overall well-being How to reset and find your center

Mike Massimino served with NASA from 1996 to 2014, and is the veteran of two space flights to the Hubble Space Telescope. Spaceman is the tale of his unlikely journey to becoming an astronaut, from his small town in Long Island, to Columbia and MIT, to NASA, and finally to the cosmos. It’s a testament to the importance of following your dreams, no matter how out of this world they may seem, and to the power of teamwork to achieve impossible goals. What you'll learn in this podcast: The journey of becoming an astronaut The freedom you can achieve when you follow your dreams What it's like to look down at Earth from space

Ora Nadrich is a Certified Life Coach and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher and author of Says Who? How One Simple Question Can Change the Way You Think Forever. In Says Who, Ora Nadrich has created an incredibly easy to follow method to get rid of negative thoughts, taking away all their power over us. It will work for anyone. It starts by realizing that we are in control over our own thoughts, and we get to decide who stays. What you'll learn in this podcast: 7 questions to ask yourself to help banish negative thinking Why most of our negative thoughts don't even belong to us Why we find negative thoughts so comforting

Steve Kamb is the author of Level Up Your Life: How to Unlock Adventure and Happiness by Becoming the Hero of Your Own Story. He’s also the creator of nerdfitness.com, a worldwide community of regular people looking to live better lives. He hopes to one day become Captain America. What you'll learn in this podcast: Why motivation is a horrible thing to rely on How important nutrition is to a healthy lifestyle How turning life into a gam can help you start reaching any goal you want

Barbara Oakley is a Professor of Engineering at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan and her work focuses on the complex relationship between neuroscience and social behavior. Her newest book Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential is available now and it reveals how we can overcome stereotypes and preconceived ideas about what is possible for us to learn and become. What you'll learn in this podcast: Why the imposter syndrome is actually a good thing How to change your worst traits to your best traits Tips on developing a learning lifestyle

Leigh Stringer is Senior Workplace Expert for EYP Architecture & Engineering and is researching employee health and productivity in conjunction with the Harvard School of Public Health, the Center for Active Design, and other leading organizations.  What you'll learn in this podcast: Healthy habits to adopt at work How to avoid making unhealthy choices at work The connection between the built environment and well-being

Amy Blankson has become one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between positive psychology and technology and is the only person to be named a Point of Light by two presidents (President George H. W. Bush and President Bill Clinton) for creating a movement to activate positive culture change. Her new book The Future of Happiness looks at technology’s role in our happiness. What you'll learn in this podcast: Why technology is so influential to our happiness The three burning questions of the digital era Strategies for balancing productivity with well-being

Laurie Berkner is a best-selling, award-winning children’s recording artists and widely recognized as the uncrowned queen of children’s music. Laurie’s albums have been best-sellers on a chart typically dominated by movie soundtracks and major label compilations. Laurie has written the music and lyrics for two Off-Broadway children's musicals produced by New York City Children’s Theater: Wanda's Monster (2013) and The Amazing Adventures of Harvey and the Princess (2014). What you'll learn in this podcast: What children can teach us about music How music can help children learn and grow How to get rid of self-criticism and let go

Erik Wahl is an artist, author, and entrepreneur. He is internationally recognized as a thought provoking graffiti artist and one of the most sought-after speakers on the corporate lecture circuit to audiences as diverse as companies like Disney, Microsoft, Toyota, government institutions, and university students. What you'll learn in this podcast: How to harness creativity and discipline The relationship between structure and freedom How to activate creativity amidst uncertainty and frustration

In 2012 the United Nations established March 20 as the International Day of Happiness. Each year Live Happy leads the way with a campaign to spread happiness around the globe. On March 20 giant orange Happiness Walls are erected across North America as a central point for people to pledge how they will share happiness with others. Schools, offices and local community organizations also can join in the celebration by hosting their own happiness walls. Learn more at happyacts.org

Isaac Lidsky is a CEO, corporate speaker, author and entrepreneur, now leading Florida’s largest residential shell contractor ODC Construction. A graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School, Isaac is the only blind person to serve as a Law Clerk for the U.S. Supreme Court. His debut book Eyes Wide Open was cited by The Washington Post among 10 key leadership books in 2017. As a child actor, he played “Weasel” on NBC’s Saved By The Bell: The New Class and appeared in 100+ commercials. What you'll learn in this podcast: How to think differently about true vision and ways to approach life goals Why entrepreneurship is the answer for many of us to “Live Happy” but not everyone What you need to know to shatter misconceptions that may exist about you

The World Happiness Summit is coming! Find out what this meeting of the minds is all about on this episode of Live Happy Now. Karen Guggenheim is the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of WOHASU and a Co-Founder of the World Happiness Summit. Stepping into this role is an evolution of her extensive career arc, which includes editorial board work with The Miami Herald, strategic communications and integrated marketing expertise with C-Level executives as well as worldwide brands.

In this episode of the Live Happy Now podcast we explore the new issue of Live Happy magazine with Live Happy Science Editor Paula Felps. Listen in as we preview a few of the articles in this issue. What you'll hear in this podcast: Queen Latifah shares her secrets to success and lasting joy Sam Worthington explores his own evolution both on and off the screen How to use humor to build confidence and charisma 33 ideas to make your home a place of positivity

Yakov Smirnoff is a Soviet-born American comedian, actor and writer. After emigrating to the United States in 1977, Yakov began performing as a stand-up comic. He reached his biggest success in the mid-to-late 1980s, appearing in several films and the television sitcom vehicle What a Country!. He has received a Masters of Applied Positive Psychology at UPenn and is currently pursuing a doctorate at Pepperdine University in Psychology. What you'll learn in this podcast: Why laughter really is the best medicine Warning signs your relationship may be in trouble Why laughter is essential to the well-being of a relationship

Amy Blankson has become one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between positive psychology and technology and is the only person to be named a Point of Light by two presidents (President George H. W. Bush and President Bill Clinton) for creating a movement to activate positive culture change. In this episode of Live Happy Now she expands on her article Get a Grip on Your Gadgets in the February 2017 issue of Live Happy magazine. What you'll learn in this podcast: Tips on a healthy and happy digital cleanse The steps to de-clutter your tech devices How organization contributes to your overall happiness

The World Happiness Summit is coming! Find out what this meeting of the minds is all about on this episode of Live Happy Now. Suzanne Jewell is the Chief Mindfulness Officer for the World Happiness. Suzanne believes her life path has led to participate and support this history making movement of sharing the science and practice of happiness. Having struggled through her own paralyzing anxiety after the loss of her best friend, which was her Mom, she dedicated herself to learning tools & techniques to “grow through”, not just “go through” the challenge and build her own personal resilience.

Bruce Cameron began his writing career as a humor columnist for the Denver Rocky Mountain News. Sadly, the Rocky went out of business, but he says that was not his fault. He is a Benchley award winner for humor and was the 2011 NSNC Newspaper Columnist of the Year. His novel A Dog’s Purpose spent 52 weeks on the NY Times best-seller list and DreamWorks has developed it into a film currently playing at theaters across the country. What you'll learn in this podcast: The amazing story of how A Dog's Purpose became such a huge hit The true message of the book and of our dogs What prompted the writing of A Dog's Purpose

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. is internationally known for his work as a scientist, writer, and meditation teacher engaged in bringing mindfulness into the mainstream of medicine and society. He is Professor of Medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he founded its world-renowned Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Clinic (in 1979), and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society (in 1995). What you'll learn in this podcast: How to live life with intent The minimum amount you should spend being mindful or meditating How to create a love affair with your own life

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. is internationally known for his work as a scientist, writer, and meditation teacher engaged in bringing mindfulness into the mainstream of medicine and society. He is Professor of Medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he founded its world-renowned Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Clinic (in 1979), and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society (in 1995). What you'll learn in this podcast: How to live life with intent The minimum amount you should spend being mindful or meditating How to create a love affair with your own life

Giacomo Bono, Ph.D., is Associate Editor for The Journal of Positive Psychology, and director of the Youth Gratitude Project. The aims of the Youth Gratitude Project are to create youth measures of gratitude and to develop and test a gratitude curriculum targeting pre-K and grades 4 through 12 throughout the United States with the broad goal of providing schools with resources to support students' well-being, socio-emotional skills and character. What you'll learn in this podcast: The science behind developing gratitude The effects of gratitude on mental health Strategies for motivating and better relating to children and teens

Carin Rockind is a leading happiness expert, media personality, and the creator of PurposeGirl, a movement to empower purpose-driven living. She has taught thousands of people real-life strategies to reclaim their happiness, and live to their fullest potential of success and well-being. What you'll learn in this podcast: How to find your purpose Why it is important to take action towards your goals now How to use midlife for a catalyst instead of a crisis

In this episode of the Live Happy Now podcast we explore the new issue of Live Happy magazine with Live Happy CEO and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz. Listen in as we preview four of the articles in this issue and explore the topic of how to supercharge your life. What you'll hear in this podcast: How Ming-Na Wen of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. stays positive Why Luke Cage and Sons of Anarchy star Theo Rossi gives back The latest theory in creative goal setting, called “design thinking” Four traits to develop in your children to help them become high achievers

Actress Ming-Na Wen, star of ABC’s Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., has become a role model at age 53, with a new book in the works and a burgeoning brand, #Wenever. Learn how this age-defying, butt-kicking superhero manages it all in this episode of Live Happy Now. What you'll learn in this podcast: The importance of taking care of yourself How to create your own happiness through positivity Tips on combating negativity

The right playlist can help keep you motivated, focused and determined to finish a great workout. We sit down with Live Happy science editor Paula Felps on what it takes to create the perfect exercise playlist and we create a playlist for you to use during your workouts. What you'll learn in this podcast: How to create a playlist to motivate you during exercise Characteristics to look for in great workout songs How to arrange your playlist for peak performance

Jan Stanley is an executive coach, consultant, speaker and facilitator who helps individuals and organizations thrive. Jan is well versed in the practical side of change, and is adept at finding just the right tool, system or method to enhance performance or to find joy and meaning in all that we do. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology program, where she is seen as an expert on using ceremony and ritual to enhance daily well-being. What you'll learn in this podcast: How goals contribute to fulfilling life Why goals and resolutions fail and what to do to increase rates of success How to commit to your goals once you've established them

Genella Macintyre is an author and international trainer and consultant with a focus on improving the quality of personal and professional living. Topics of her workshops include dealing with difficult clients and customers, working with colleagues, managing conflict through conversations, and leading remote teams. What you'll learn in this podcast: How to determine your stress reducing style The critical role of a positive state of mind How to trigger a relaxation response

Tana Amen, RN, BSN is the executive vice president of Amen Clinics, a NY Times best-selling author of The Omni Diet and highly respected health and fitness expert. Tana helps people to become warriors for their brains and bodies by arming them with the tools and knowledge to win the fight of their lives. What you'll learn in this podcast: What a brain warrior is Why we're in a war for our health Tips on making healthier choices during the holidays

Jessica Rovello is the CEO and co-founder of Arkadium, which provides an audience attention platform for the world’s most well-known brands and publishers, including CNN, Comcast, Microsoft, The Washington Post and USA Today. In this episode Jessica shares what Arkadium has done for their company culture in order to be named a Best Workplace by Inc. magazine. What you'll learn in this podcast: What kinds of work environments foster fulfilling lifestyles The importance of prioritizing happy living in a company culture Things to implement in your office to help boost happiness

TIME magazine named him one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in the World.” Men’s Fitness hailed him as one of the fittest men on the planet. An acclaimed endurance athlete and NY Times best-selling author, Dean Karnazes has pushed his body and mind to inconceivable limits. We learn more about Dean's journey along the road to Sparta in this episode of Live Happy Now. What you'll learn in this podcast: The origin and evolution of the marathon How to fail beautifully Why there's magic in misery

At the young age of 15, Jennifer Rothschild was diagnosed with a rare, degenerative eye disease that would eventually steal her sight. It was more than a turning point for the Miami, Florida, native. Her dreams of becoming a commercial artist and cartoonist faded. Words and music have replaced her canvas and palette for more than 25 years. She shares how she has been able to remain optimistic and positive through her life despite the adversities. What you'll learn in this podcast: How changing the way you look at the world can change your attitude The power of gratitude The importance of knowing your authentic self

Tis the season for giving thanks! We say it time and again that gratitude is one of the most powerful ways to share happiness and feel authentic happiness. We sit down with Live Happy science editor Paula Felps to talk about how to create the perfect gratitude playlist. What you'll learn in this podcast: How the arrangement of a playlist affects you The power of music to become more mindful How to appreciate the little things

Janell Burley Hofmann is an international speaker, consultant & the author of the book iRules: What Every Tech Healthy Family Needs to Know About Selfies, Sexting, Gaming & Growing Up. Janell is the founder of The Slow Tech Movement & iRules Academy. What you'll learn in this podcast: How to use technology with mindfulness and intention The personal and professional iRules to help build a life of digital well-being How to engage in conversation to build connection and strengthen relationships

Most adults today spend more time on the job than anywhere else and receive from it not just monetary rewards but also the feelings of accomplishment and purpose necessary to good mental health. Live Happy magazine section editor Chris Libby joins the podcast to share how mindfulness, gratitude, compassion and more can help boost your happiness at work. What you'll learn in this podcast: How to manage stress levels at work What you can do to combat negativity in the office The impact gratitude and compassion can have on your coworkers

Susan Verde, a proud mother of a daughter and twin boys, writes children’s books and teaches kid’s yoga and mindfulness. She is the author of the picture books The Museum, You and Me, I am Yoga and the forthcoming The Water Princess. What you'll learn in this podcast: The relationship between yoga and happiness How kids yoga can help to cultivate patience, resilience, creativity and confidence Ways to introduce yoga to your child

Adam Shell is an award-winning documentary film director, editor and musician. In his latest film, Pursuing Happiness, Adam and producer Nicholas Kraft, embark upon a journey to find what makes Americans happy. What you'll learn in this podcast: How the creative process works in compiling a film of this magnitude The impact the film has had on Adam's personal well-being A glimpse of some of the stories shared in Pursuing Happiness

Athletics, theater, music lessons, honors classes…these are all great things for your child to be involved with but is it stressing them out? In this episode we learn what parents can do to help their child experience less stress from their busy schedules and help them to be more successful through the practice of mindfulness. Susie Wolbe holds a Doctor of Education in educational supervision with a concentration in curriculum and instruction and has spent 30+ years as an educator in public and private schools. By making use of mindfulness strategies Susie has learned how to manage life’s (sometimes) overwhelming demands, and she is now committed to helping others do the same, especially as it applies to students, educators and parents. What you'll learn in this podcast: How to have a school year that is less stressful for students and families How to create a family mission statement How to ensure that your family is making conscious decisions that are aligned with what's most important

In this episode of the Live Happy Now podcast we geek out over the new issue of Live Happy magazine with Live Happy CEO and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz. Listen in as we preview four of the articles in this issue and explore the topic of happiness in the brain. What you'll hear in this podcast: How Mayim Bialik stays balanced with a busy schedule The importance of your vagus nerve to your happiness The value of friendship and healthy relationships How a community in Detroit has brought joy to the Eastern Market

Dr. Srikumar Rao joins the Live Happy Now podcast again to help us learn how to stop the negative mental chatter that we all experience from time to time. Dr. Rao has helped thousands of executives and entrepreneurs all over the world discover deep meaning. His methods have enabled them to achieve quantum leaps in effectiveness. Graduates of his workshops have become more creative and more inspiring leaders. He conceived the innovative course Creativity and Personal Mastery course that he teaches in London and New York. Students found it so overwhelmingly powerful that it remains the only business school course in the world to have its own alumni association. What you'll learn in this podcast: How to overcome negative self talk How to have deeper connections with others How to combat toxic personalities

Dr. Daniel Amen is a psychiatrist, a brain disorder specialist and director of the Amen Clinics which offer medical services to people who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other disorders. He is author of the best-sellers Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, Magnificent Mind at Any Age and The Amen Solution. What you'll learn in this podcast: What can help improve your brain health The connection between exercise and your brain How some people are turning into dinosaurs

Steve Keller, CEO of ivAudio Branding, is one of the world’s leading experts in the field of audio branding. Combining his degree in Psychology with over 25 years of experience in the music industry as a producer, composer, independent label executive, music publisher and manager, he looks at how sounds and music affect us. What you'll learn in this podcast: How your senses affect your perception of things What sweet and spicy sound like More about the emerging field of neurogastronomy

Wendy Suzuki is a Professor of Neural Science and psychology at New York University. Her research has focused on understanding the patterns of brain activity underlying long-term memory and more recently understanding how aerobic exercise might improve our learning memory and cognitive ability. In this episode Wendy shares her expertise of brain plasticity and how she figured out how to get a happy brain and a happy life. What you'll learn in this podcast:  The long-term effects of exercise on the brain How meditation affects the brain How love and altruism affects the brain

The ultimate creative challenge is to take complicated scientific ideas and make it super accessible. In this episode of Live Happy Now we talk with Emmy-nominated filmmaker Tiffany Shlain about the power of film and an event called Character Day which is a free global initiative where groups around the world screen films on the science of character development and dive into free discussion materials.

After a melt down on live television, ABC News’ Nightline anchor Dan Harris knew he needed to make a change in how he approached his career and his overall happiness. Dan joins this episode of Live Happy Now to share how he has learned to become just 10% happier at a time, how he reduced stress without losing his edge and found self-help that actually works.

Rosalind Wiseman has had only one job since graduating from college—to help communities shift the way we think about children and teens’ emotional and physical well-being. Rosalind is the author of Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World—the groundbreaking, best-selling book that was the basis for the movie Mean Girls. We sat down with Rosalind to dive into the life of teenagers on this episode of Live Happy Now. What you'll learn in this podcast: Concrete strategies to help you empower your daughter to be socially competent and treat herself with dignity How Girl World has fundamentally changed in recent years The roles of technology in your teen's life How to prevent the influence of cliques on your child's decision making 

We all have “that song,” the one that instantly makes us feel invincible, like Rocky Balboa running up the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Bid did you know that you can use that song to actually reset your brain? We sit down with Live Happy science editor Paula Felps to talk about how to create the perfect playlist What you'll learn in this podcast: How the arrangement of a playlist affects you The power of a playlist to change your mood The 5 key components of creating the perfect playlist Different ways you can use playlists to improve your mood  

In this episode we look back on past interviews from the Live Happy Now podcast with Live Happy CEO and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz. Did your favorite episode make the list? What you'll learn in this podcast: How to unplug from work with Christine Carter The secret to a better night's sleep with Michael Breus, Ph.D. The importance of connection with Barbara Fredrickson How practicing gratitude impacts your hapiness with Sonja Lyubomirsky The act of mindfulness with Matt Tenney Happiness lessons that adults can learn from children with Dr. Edward Hallowell How to never be too busy again with Neil Pasricha

Dr. Srikumar Rao has helped thousands of executives and entrepreneurs all over the world discover deep meaning. His methods have enabled them to achieve quantum leaps in effectiveness. Graduates of his workshops have become more creative and more inspiring leaders. He conceived the innovative Creativity and Personal Mastery course that he teaches in London and New York. Students found it so overwhelmingly powerful that it remains the only business school course in the world to have its own alumni association.

This week we sat down with positive psychology and well-being thought leaders live at The Festival of Positive Education in Dallas, TX. We asked them why positive education was so important, what children can gain from it and how focusing on developing character strengths in students can begin to help society as a whole.

This week we sat down with positive psychology and well-being thought leaders live at The Festival of Positive Education in Dallas, TX. We asked them why positive education was so important, what children can gain from it and how focusing on developing character strengths in students can begin to help society as a whole.

Heather Shumaker is a national speaker on parenting and early childhood topics and is the author of two renegade parenting books: It’s OK Not to Share...and Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids and It’s OK to Go Up the Slide. An advocate for free, unstructured play in homes and schools, she lives in northern Michigan with her family.

With 15 years experience of living and working in over 50 countries, Natalia Cohen has chosen to follow an unusual and fascinating path. Natalia is no stranger to being outside of her comfort zone and has made an art of embracing and adapting to change. Her understanding of team dynamics, the importance of a positive mindset and the ability to live in the moment led her to become part of the first all-female team to row unsupported across the Pacific Ocean. Natalia shares her amazing story in this episode of Live Happy Now.

Pop star, author, style maven, philanthropist and mom Lisa Loeb has recently released her fourth children’s album exclusively with Amazon, Nursery Rhyme Parade. In this episode we talk about the importance of creativity to overall happiness, the song writing process and the Camp Lisa Foundation.

Raj Raghunathan is professor of marketing at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. He is interested in exploring the impact that people’s judgments and decisions have on their own happiness and fulfillment. Raj also has an online course on happiness with over 120,000 students from literally every country in the world.

Joseph Cardillo, Ph.D. joins Live Happy science editor Paula Felps this week to look at body intelligence and harnessing your body’s energies for your best life. Joseph is the best-selling author of several books in the fields of health, mind-body-spirit, and psychology and appears as the energy management expert in Michael Strahan’s new book Wake Up Happy.

Zelana Montminy, Ph.D., is a leading figure in positive psychology, bringing a unique and varied skill set to the well-being realm. Zelana is the author of 21 Days to Resilience, which is ranked No. 1 on Amazon’s Mental Health Hot New Releases, and she speaks around the world on the topic of resilience.

Live Happy CEO Deborah K. Heisz joins Dr. Michelle Robin to talk about the impact of small changes on your overall well-being. Michelle is an international speaker, best-selling author and founder of Your Wellness Connection, one of the nation’s most successful integrative healing centers.

In this episode we touch on the difficult subject of finding joy after the loss of a loved one. And although everyone must deal with grief in his or her own way, it is possible to be able to get back to living a life full of joy and find your authentic happiness once again. Kristin Meekhof who is a licensed master’s level social worker and author of the book A Widow’s Guide to Healing: Gentle Support and Advice For the First Five Years and was a contributor to Live Happy: Ten Practices for Choosing Joy for the piece titled “The Healing Power of Gratitude”.

Neil Pasricha is The New York Times best-selling author of The Book of Awesome series. Neil is a Harvard MBA, one of the most popular TED speakers of all time and the Director of the Institute for Global Happiness. He has dedicated the past 15 years of his life to developing leaders—creating global programs inside the world’s largest companies and speaking to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. In this episode, he shares more about his new book The Happiness Equation: Want Nothing + Do Anything = Have Everything.

Ross Mathews has won the hearts of millions of Americans since his television debut as a correspondent for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Ross is author of the national best-seller Man Up!: Tales of My Delusional Self-Confidence and can currently be seen as the newest host of FOX's Hollywood Today Live, on the red carpet with E! for the biggest awards shows of the season, and returning as a judge on the smash hit, LOGO series RuPaul’s Drag Race. In this episode we learn more about Ross’s journey toward happiness and what his keys are to living happy.

Linda Swain is a creator, producer and television host. Her most recent nationally televised show, Tapping IN: The Happiest People & Places on the Planet received a Daytime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Travel Program in 2015. Tapping IN combines Linda’s passion to share the stories of others through television and nearly 30 years of spanning the globe, searching for the happiest people and places on the planet for her travel company Swain Destinations.

Joshua Smyth, Ph.D., is a professor of Biobehavioral Health andMedicine at Penn State and co-author of the upcoming bookOpening Up by Writing It Down–How Expressive Writing ImprovesHealth and Eases Emotional Pain. Joshua was interviewed for anarticle in our latest issue of Live Happy magazine abouthow a 20 minute practice of creative writing can help make youhappier, healthier and more resilient. In this episode of LiveHappy Now, we talk with him about how expressive writing canhelp manage stress and improve well-being.

We talk with child and adult psychiatrist and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Edward Hallowell on the steps parents can take to help their children become happier as adults. Dr. Hallowell graduated from Harvard College and Tulane School of Medicine and was a faculty member at Harvard Medical School from 1983 to 2004. He has authored twenty books on various psychological topics including the power of the human connection, methods of forgiving others, dealing with worry, managing excessive busyness and the childhood roots of happiness.

Learn more about the importance of our oceans to our global well-being with Peter Neill, founder and director of World Ocean Observatory. World Ocean Observatory is a web-based place of exchange for information and education about the health of the ocean. Peter is also host of World Ocean Radio, a weekly series of 5-minute audio essays on a wide range of ocean topics, and editor of World Ocean Journal, a bi-annual e-magazine of the WOO focused on ocean culture and solutions to today’s ocean issues.

In this episode of Live Happy Now, we discover why mindfulness can be considered the ultimate success habit. Matt Tenney is author of The Mindfulness Edge: How to Rewire Your Brain for Leadership and Personal Excellence Without Adding to Your Schedule. Through keynote speeches and training programs, Matt works to develop highly effective leaders who achieve extraordinary, long-term business outcomes and live more fulfilling lives.

In this episode of Live Happy Now we talk with Stacy Kaiser, Live Happy editor at large, about the idea of "super parents" and why striving to be a good parent by allowing room for error and accepting imperfections really helps model to children that trying your best is what is really important. Stacy is a licensed psychotherapist, relationship expert, media personality and author of How to Be a Grown Up: The Ten Secret Skills Everyone Needs to Know.

In this episode, Live Happy Co-Founder and Editorial Director Deborah K. Heisz talks with Dr. Drew Ramsey about one of 10 practices for choosing joy: health. Dr. Drew is The New York Times best-selling author of Fifty Shades of Kale and The Happiness Diet. He is one of psychiatry’s leading proponents of using dietary change to help balance moods, sharpen brain function and improve mental health.

In this episode Live Happy Co-Founder and Editorial Director Deborah K. Heisz talks with Kenneth Pargament, Ph.D., about one of 10 practices for choosing joy: resilience. Kenneth has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is professor emeritus of psychology at Bowling Green State University. He is also author of The Psychology of Religion and Coping and Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy: Understanding and Addressing the Sacred.

In this episode Live Happy magazine science editor Paula Felps talks with Steve Leventhal, executive director of CorStone, about one of 10 practices for choosing joy: resilience. CorStone is an international nongovernmental organization that develops and provides personal resilience programs to improve well-being for youth worldwide, focusing on adolescent girls in developing countries as critical change-agents in their communities. CorStone believes that cultivating personal resilience is a foundational step in helping youth to thrive—one which is often missing in development programs worldwide. Its evidence-based programs impact three interdependent factors in well-being: emotional health, physical health and education.

In this episode we are joined by Live Happy Director of Digital Marketing and Products Laura Coppedge to share more about the International Day of Happiness and what Live Happy is doing to celebrate this special day.

In this episode Live Happy Co-Founder and Editorial Director Deborah K. Heisz talks with Ali Smith, co-founder of the Holistic Life Foundation, on one of 10 practices for choosing joy: mindfulness. Ali has more than 15 years of experience teaching yoga and mindfulness to diverse populations. Through his work at the Holistic Life Foundation, he has developed and piloted yoga and mindfulness programs with at-risk youth at drug treatment centers, juvenile detention centers, alternative high schools, mental crisis facilities and in many other underserved communities.

In this episode Live Happy co-founder and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz talks with Birju Pandya, a senior advisor for RSF Social Financial, on one of ten practices for choosing joy: giving back. Birju is also involved with ServiceSpace, an organization run entirely by volunteers that leverages technology to encourage everyday people around the world to do small acts of service. Some of the projects by ServiceSpace include a daily positive news service, an acts-of-kindness portal, and a gift-economy restaurant.

In this episode Live Happy Co-Founder and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz talks with Sonja Lyubomirsky about gratitude. Sonja is author of The How of Happiness, the first book by a highly-credentialed positive psychologist to present the latest research in a “how-to” format. Sonja’s work has been awarded a Templeton Psychology Prize, a Science of Generosity grant, a John Templeton Foundation grant, and a million-dollar grant (with Ken Sheldon) from the National Institute of Mental Health to conduct research on the possibility of permanently increasing happiness.

Holly Raynes was inspired by a family member who was a Titanic survivor and another who escaped from Poland in World War II. Her book, Nation of Enemies, combines lessons from the past with a healthy fear of the modern landscape. A longtime member of Boston’s writing community, Holly has a history of trying anything once (acting, diving out of a plane and white water rafting). Out of all the things she has tried, writing and raising children seem to have stuck. In this episode, Live Happy co-founder and Editorial Director Deborah K. Heisz talks with Holly on one of 10 practices for choosing joy—creativity.

Paula Felps is the science editor for Live Happy magazine and has worked as a freelance writer and editor since 1998, covering topics from health and fitness to luxury cars and travel to business and technology. She has written for publications and websites such as Executive Travel, American Driver, Self and Reserve. In this episode, Live Happy co-founder and Editorial Director Deborah K. Heisz talks with Paula about the science of savoring and shares a glimpse into the new April 2016 issue of Live Happy magazine.

Alastair Moock is a 2013 Grammy Awards nominee and a two-time winner of the Parents’ Choice Gold Awards. His works have twice been included in The Fids and Kamily Industry Critics’ Top 3 Albums of the Year. Long one of Boston’s premier folk artists, Alastair turned his attention to family music after the birth of his twin daughters in 2006. The New York Times calls him “a Tom Waits for kids” and The Boston Globe declares, “in the footsteps of Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, Alastair Moock makes real kids music that parents can actually enjoy.” In this episode, Live Happy co-founder and Editorial Director Deborah K. Heisz talks with Alastair on one of ten practices for choosing joy—meaning.

Mary Miller is the CEO and owner of JANCOA Janitorial Service, Inc., an award-winning commercial cleaning service located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mary is known for her positive outlook and desire to help others realize their uniqueness and personal power. Through her renowned employee benefits program, the Dream Manager, she has created an exceptional work environment and a truly successful organization. The Dream Manager, popularized by the bestselling book under the same name, grew from an employee retention program into an inspiring example of what a business can be. In this episode, Live Happy co-founder and Editorial Director Deborah K. Heisz talks with Mary on one of ten practices for choosing joy—a positive attitude.

Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D., serves as the president of the International Positive Psychology Association and is considered one of the most highly cited scholars in the field of psychology today. Her research reveals how micro-moments of love and other forms of positivity nourish your health, wisdom and longevity. In this episode, Live Happy co-founder and Editorial Director Deborah K. Heisz talks with Barbara on one of ten practices for choosing joy—relationships and love.

Suzie Pileggi Pawelski is a contributing editor for Live Happy magazine as well as wellness counselor specializing in the science of happiness and its effects on health and relationships. Her 2010 Scientific American Mind cover story "The Happy Couple" was selected by the magazine as one of its most intriguing articles of recent years. James Pawelski, Ph.D., is Director of Education and Senior Scholar in the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania. For the last ten years, he has served as the founding director of the Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program, the world's first degree program in positive psychology. He is also the founding director of the International Positive Psychology Association. Live Happy co-founder and Editorial Director Deborah K. Heisz talks with James and Suzie about achieving harmonious passion in your personal relationships.

In this episode we talk to the Live Happy team members who recently took part in the “90 Days to a Happier You” challenge. Find out how Susan, Kim, Donna, Shelley and Chris learned to make better choices and build habits that have helped them become happier people. Through this series we'll tackle topics like improving communication with others, managing negative thinking, overcoming chronic insomnia, setting life goals and learning to unplug from work.

Gretchen Rubin is the author of several books, including the blockbuster New York Times best-sellers Better Than Before, The Happiness Project and Happier at Home. On her popular weekly podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin she discusses good habits and happiness with her sister Elizabeth Craft. In this episode Live Happy COO, Co-Founder and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz talks about the power of habits in creating a happier and more successful life.

Valorie Burton is a best-selling author and speaker who helps people "get unstuck" and "be unstoppable" in every area of their lives. As a certified personal and executive coach, Valorie has served hundreds of clients in more than 40 states and nine countries, and is the founder of The Coaching and Positive Psychology Institute. In this episode Live Happy Co-Founder, COO and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz talks with Valorie about identifying your personal happiness triggers, how to bounce back from stress and adversity, and how to savor each moment every day.

In this special podcast series, we have partnered with top well-being experts to help coach five members of our Live Happy team on how to make better choices and build habits that lead to more fulfilling lives. Through this series we'll tackle life-changing topics such as improving communication with others, managing negative thinking, overcoming chronic insomnia, setting life goals and learning to unplug from work. In this episode, Live Happy science editor Paula Felps talks with Christine Carter who is a sociologist and senior fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center and author of The Sweet Spot: How to Find Your Groove at Work and Home.

Emma Seppälä is Science Director of Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education as well as the author of The Happiness Track: How to Apply the Science of Happiness to Accelerate Your Success. Her areas of research include positive organizational psychology, health psychology, cultural psychology, well-being and resilience. In this episode Live Happy COO, Co-Founder and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz talks with Emma about what the science of happiness is according to science and the ability to bounce back from difficulties in life.

In this special podcast series we have partnered with top well-being experts to help coach five members of our Live Happy team on how to make better choices and build habits that lead to more fulfilling lives. Through this series we'll tackle life-changing topics such as improving communication with others, managing negative thinking, overcoming chronic insomnia, setting life goals and learning to unplug from work. In this episode Live Happy magazine Science Editor Paula Felps talks with Caroline Miller who has been a pioneer with her ground-breaking work in the areas of goal setting/accomplishment, grit, happiness and success. She is recognized as one of the world’s leading positive psychology experts on this research and how it can be applied to one’s life for maximum transformation and growth.

In this special podcast series we have partnered with top well-being experts to help coach five members of our Live Happy team on how to make better choices and build habits that lead to more fulfilling lives. Through this series we'll tackle topics like improving communication with others, managing negative thinking, overcoming chronic insomnia, setting life goals and learning to unplug from work. In this episode Live Happy magazine Science Editor Paula Felps talks with Michael Breus, Ph.D., a Clinical Psychologist as well as a Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. As the subject of sleep continues to gain momentum in our sleep-deprived society, Michael has become a widely recognized leader in this ever-evolving field and serves on the clinical advisory board of The Dr. Oz Show. Dedicated to raising awareness of both medically diagnosed sleep disorders and the importance of quality sleep for all, Michael is on a mission to develop innovative education and communication programs.

Karen Cassiday is the president-elect of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America as well as owner of the Anxiety Treatment Center of Greater Chicago-the first private clinic in the Chicago area to offer exposure-based treatment for anxiety disorders. Karen has multiple published articles in the area of anxiety disorders, and is an internationally recognized expert on the treatment of anxiety and related disorders in children through adults. In this episode Live Happy magazine Science Editor Paula Felps talks with Karen about the causes and difficulties with worry and how to overcome it.

In this special podcast series we have partnered with top well-being experts to help coach five members of our Live Happy team on how to make better choices and build habits that lead more fulfilling lives. Through this series we tackle topics like improving communication with others, managing negative thinking, overcoming chronic insomnia, setting life goals and learning to unplug from work. Michele Gravelle is a consultant with Triad Consulting where she works with the authors of the bestselling books: Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most, and Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well. Michele also facilitates executive education programs at the Harvard Negotiation Institute and Duke Corporate Education. In this episode Live Happy magazine Science Editor Paula Felps talks with Michele about the obstacles to effective communication and how to improve your communication with others.

Tal Ben Shahar, Ph.D., is an author and lecturer who taught Harvard University’s most popular course on positive psychology and its third most popular course on the psychology of leadership. Tal is also a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of the Wholebeing Institute, Happier.TV, Potentialife and the Maytiv Center for Research and Practice in Positive Psychology.   In this episode Live Happy COO, Co-Founder and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz talks with Tal about the three steps to lasting change and what you can do to help make your resolutions succeed. We also listen in on a conversation from our recent cover shoot with Jillian Michaels about her keys to living a happier life and share what's inside the February 2016 issue of Live Happy magazine.

Michelle Segar, Ph.D., is a motivation scientist and author of the critically acclaimed No Sweat! How the Simple Science of Motivation Can Bring You a Lifetime of Fitness. She is also the Director of the Sport, Health, and Activity Research and Policy Center (SHARP) at the University of Michigan, chair of the U.S. National Physical Activity Plan’s Communications Committee and a leading authority on what motivates people to choose and maintain healthy behaviors. With the new year upon us, we explore what really motivates us to make and keep resolutions as well as what we can do to successfully reach our health and fitness goals.

In this episode we look back on past interviews from the Live Happy Now podcast with Live Happy COO, Co-Founder and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz. Did your favorite episode make the list?

Over the past 20 years, Grammy Award-nominated Jim Brickman has amassed a huge following as a contemporary pianist. Fans trust his music to deal with a crisis, rekindle romance, or simply relax. In his latest book, Soothe: How to find Calm Amid Everyday Chaos—he compiles a collection of both spiritual and practical advice that mirrors the way it feels when listening to his music. In this episode we learn more about Jim's experience and his tips to soothe your stress to find a more relaxed state of mind.

Margaret H. Greenberg is a certified executive coach, international speaker, “Positive Work” columnist for Live Happy magazine, and the coauthor of the business book Profit from the Positive: Proven Leadership Strategies to Boost Productivity and Transform Your Business. Margaret is a pioneer in the field of positive psychology, having graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s very first Master of Applied Positive Psychology program. In this episode, Margaret and Live Happy Co-Founder, COO and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz talk about the emerging field of positive psychology, explore numerous tools to help you profit from the positive and offer advice to help you find your authentic happiness.

Jenny Santi is a trusted philanthropy advisor to some of the world's most generous givers and celebrity activists. In this episode Jenny shares the science behind giving, how it makes you feel good and ways to overcome compassion fatigue.

Deepak Chopra is a pioneer of integrative medicine and the author of more than 80 books published in 43 languages. Many have been New York Times best-sellers in both the fiction and nonfiction categories. Rudolph E. Tanzi is an internationally acclaimed expert on Alzheimer's disease and was included in TIME magazine's "TIME 100 Most Influential people in the World." In this episode, Live Happy COO, Co-Founder and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz talks with Deepak and Rudolph on their latest book Super Genes: Unlock the Astonishing Power of Your DNA for Optimum Health and Well-Being.

Sara Oliveri is a Washington, D.C-based life coach and speaker who helps people, as well as organizations, create happier lives. She is one of less than 300 graduates of the Master of Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode we talk about effective tools to create a more meaningful and fulfilling life and how to identify your personal core values to help you achieve authentic happiness.

Dr. Drew Ramsey, New York Times best-selling author of Fifty Shades of Kale and The Happiness Diet, is one of psychiatry’s leading proponents of using dietary change to help balance moods, sharpen brain function and improve mental health. In this episode Live Happy Science Editor Paula Felps talks with Drew about the best foods for a healthy and growing brain as well as great tips for wholesome eating on a budget.

Anne K. Fishel, Ph.D., is director of the Family and Couples Therapy Program at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and an associate clinical professor of psychology at the Harvard Medical School. She is a co-founder of The Family Dinner Project, a non-profit group that works online and in person to help families have healthy and enjoyable dinners, as well as meaningful conversation at the table. In this episode we explore why family dinners are great for the body, mind and mental health of all family members involved as well as some tips for making the conversation around the dinner table interesting, lively and meaningful.

Rhonda Cornum was a 36-year-old flight surgeon in 1991 when her Black Hawk helicopter was sent to rescue a downed F-16 pilot. Through this “one week of misadventure” she remained positive. Learn where that resilience came from, the major challenges to teaching and learning resilience, and a few tips to help you become more resilient.

Tom Rath is a best-selling author and researcher who studies the role of human behavior in business, health and well-being. Live Happy Editorial Director, COO and Co-Founder Deborah Heisz talks with Tom about his most recent work, a feature-length documentary film, Fully Charged, which explores the key elements of energizing one's work and life through personal stories and interviews with the world's leading social scientists.

Louis Alloro is a change-agent working with individuals and organizations to enable positive evolution, even through the most difficult challenges. He is one of the first 100 people in the world to earn a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and holds a second master's degree in the Foundations of Education. In this episode we look at the power of gratitude as well as recommendations for positivity and peace during the holiday season.

Dr. Michael Finkelstein, also known as The Slow Medicine Doctor, is the author of Slow Medicine: Hope and Healing for Chronic Illness. Dr. Finkelstein has been featured in The New York Times and on CNN for his work on both a micro and macro point of view on today’s health care needs and challenges. Live Happy COO, Co-Founder and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz joins Dr. Finkelstein to discuss the definition of forgiveness and some tools for releasing stress from traumatic experiences or toxic personalities.

Find out the family dynamics of New York Times best-selling author Deepak Chopra and his daughter Mallika and gain valuable insight into the importance of creating a relationship with yourself, the positive impact of meditation, and inspiring advice for parents. Deepak, a board-certified physician and co-founder of The Chopra Center for Well-being, is at the forefront of integrative medicine and personal transformation. His daughter Mallika Chopra is a busy mom of two, a successful entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of Intent.com, a successful social platform for people sharing their intents to lead a happier, healthier and more meaningful life. We also talk with Live Happy Web Editor Emily Miller about the gift that changed her life, and get a preview of the December issue of Live Happy magazine available on newsstands now.

Adam Shell is an award-winning documentary film director, editor and musician. In his latest film, Pursuing Happiness, Adam and producer Nicholas Kraft, embark upon a journey to find what makes Americans happy. Live Happy COO, Co-Founder and Editorial Director, Deborah Heisz talks with Adam about his documentary and what insights he has discovered along the way.

This week we look at the power of forgiveness with an emotional story from Emmy Award-winning filmmaker/TV producer Gayle Kirschenbaum and her mother Mildred. You can learn more about their path to forgiveness in the feature documentary, Look At Us Now, Mother!

Dr. Eric Pearl is the founder of The Reconnection and a pioneer in energy healthcare. In this episode, we'll learn more about what energy healing can do for you, and how you can begin to restore your body to its optimal balance.

Shane Lopez, Ph.D., is one of the world’s leading researcher on hope. Find out the importance of creating a relationship with your future self, coming up with multiple pathways to reach your goals and a few activities you can try to become more helpful.

James Pawelski-founding director of the UPenn Masters in Applied Positive Psychology program-and his wife, journalist and contributing editor to Live Happy Suzann Pileggi Pawelski, discuss how research from positive psychology can lead to meaningful and long-lasting relationships.

Shawn Achor is a New York Times best-selling author of Before Happiness and The Happiness Advantage. He is the winner of more than a dozen distinguished teaching awards at Harvard University, where he delivered lectures on positive psychology in the school's most popular class. Shawn has become one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between happiness and success. In this episode, Shawn talks with Live Happy COO, Co-Founder and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz about how happiness fuels success and how you can capitalize on the Happiness Advantage as well as his two-part O-Course Experience on Oprah.com.

David Shadrack Smith serves as executive producer and director on the highly anticipated landmark series with Oprah Winfrey, Belief. Throughout his career, David has earned nine Emmy nominations and worked with broadcasters around the world, including National Geographic, PBS, Discovery, History, Showtime, BBC, and many more. In this episode, David shares more about the upcoming series Belief, a groundbreaking television event exploring humankind’s ongoing search to connect with something greater than ourselves.

Live Happy Section Editor Chris Libby joins us to discuss the topic of bullying, how it starts and what you can do to help stop bullying. In this episode we are joined by a panel of people that were interviewed for an article published in the October issue of Live Happy magazine. You will hear from Jaylen Arnold, a 15-year old with a mission to stop bullying, Deborah Temkin, Ph.D., who has worked closely with the US government to bring an intersection between education and healthy social and emotional development, and Alejandro Adler, a PhD candidate in Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania whose research focuses on well-being, education and public policy.

Darlene Mininni, Ph.D., is the author of The Emotional Toolkit and creator of the UCLA undergraduate well-being course Life Skills. Her work focuses on teaching research-based strategies that answer the question: “How can I thrive in my life?” In this episode, Live Happy editor at large Stacy Kaiser talks with Darlene about using mindfulness and meditation to reduce stress and how to fit it into your busy schedule.

Richard Sears, Ph.D., is a board-certified clinical psychologist, the Director of the Center for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation and is a clinical and research faculty member of the University of Cincinnati’s Center for Integrative Health and Wellness. Richard shares the definition of mindfulness, activities you can do with your kids to teach them mindfulness and how to unplug from the technological world in this episode of Live Happy Now.

Caroline Miller is recognized as one of the world’s leading positive psychology experts in the areas of goal setting, grit, happiness, success and how to apply it to one’s life. Caroline was one of the first graduates of the University of Pennsylvania’s Masters of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program and is author of Creating Your Best Life and Positively Caroline. In this episode Caroline discusses goal setting, how to become grittier, and her new book Authentic Grit with Live Happy COO, Co-founder and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz.

Michelle McQuaid, best-selling author, workplace well-being teacher and playful change activator, joins Live Happy Now to talk about how to discover your strengths at work and how to use these strengths to bring you a more enjoyable and engaging workplace.

Tory Johnson is seen every Thursday on ABC's Good Morning America where she presents the popular Deals & Steals segment. Her last book, The Shift, was a #1 New York Times bestseller, and now she has a brand new book Shift for Good: Simple Changes for Lasting Joy Inside and Out. Tory joins Live Happy COO, Co-Founder and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz to discuss more about her happiness journey.

Dr. Christine Carter combines scientific research and practical application to offer audiences not just a way to cope with modern pressures, but a way to truly thrive. Dr. Carter looks at living life from our “sweet spot”—that place of both power and ease.

Robert Holden, Ph.D., is a best-selling author, speaker and expert on happiness, forgiveness and well-being. In this episode Robert discusses his 8 week happiness program and finding the happiness within yourself.

Jonathan Haidt recently spoke at the 2015 IPPA (International Positive Psychology Association) conference. COO, Co-Founder and Editorial Director of Live Happy LLC, Deborah K. Heisz joins Haidt to further discuss the 10 great truths, ideas to creating lasting happiness and how to deal with opposite beliefs in a heated discussion.

Paula Felps, the science editor for Live Happy magazine has recently looked into current research about the “backlash” on positive psychology. This episode delves into how the pursuit of happiness is stressing us out, what the experts say about that – and how to take some of the pressure off yourself. Live Happy Co-Founder, COO and Editorial Director Deborah Heisz also gives a preview of the October issue of Live Happy magazine on newsstands now.

Founder of Live Happy, Jeff Olson, shares insights to small actions you can take every day to achieve happiness. Over the past 30 years Jeff has helped hundreds of thousands of individuals achieve better levels of financial freedom and personal excellence. 

Michelle Gielan, founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research and an expert on the science of positive communication shares the steps you can take to broadcast happiness to create a positive impact on your community.

Tom Rath, author of Are You Fully Charged? The Three Keys to Energizing Your Work and Life, studies the role of human behavior in business, health and well-being. In this episode Tom discusses the importance of positive interaction and how to handle negative emotions.

Deborah Heisz, COO, Co-Founder and Editorial Director of Live Happy introduces what you can look forward to with the Live Happy Now podcast and a preview of the upcoming guests like Michelle Gielan, Tom Rath, Christine Carter, and Deepak Chopra. Deborah also shares more about the Live Happy mission to help make the world a happier place.